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Vikings Linebackers Appear Committed to Minnesota
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- Vikings Linebackers Appear Committed to Minnesota
Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of things they need to figure out over the next few months, as they go through much of the pre-draft process and the start of NFL free agency. But it's also possible, by the time we get to mid-March and the bell rings on a new league year, many of their biggest decisions will be made.
We've already seen the Vikings re-up Kevin O'Connell for a yet to be made public amount of time and money. Reportedly, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be right behind him. Once Kwesi's new deal is out of the way, attention will turn to the Minnesota Vikings' 2025 roster.
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Minnesota Vikings have lots of work to do this offseason…
As of today, nearly half of the players from 2024 team that finished 14-3 are pending free agents . And these aren't third-string nobodies, either. Many of the most important pieces to the Vikings' success last season is due for free agency, come 3 p.m. CT on March 12.
| Vikings Free Agents |
Pos |
2024 Snaps |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Darnold |
QB |
1,1110* |
| Harrison Smith |
S |
1,011* |
| Byron Murphy Jr |
CB |
1,060* |
| Camryn Bynum |
S |
1,032* |
| Stephon Gilmore |
CB |
864 |
| Aaron Jones |
RB |
700 |
| Shaq Griffin |
CB |
572 |
| Dalton Risner |
G |
537 |
| Cam Robinson |
T |
632 |
| Patrick Jones |
EDGE |
459 |
| Jerry Tillery |
DT |
467 |
| Ryan Wright |
P |
148 |
– MN Vikings Pending Free Agent 2025
– Snap counts per Pro-Football-Reference
(*Top-3 on team)
But deciding on which pending free agents to bring back and who to let walk is only part of the offseason puzzle that Kwesi & Co. has to put together. For example, outside linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard's contracts are not due, like those of the players listed above.
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What about Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel?
The 29-year-old Van Ginkel, however, is entering the final year of a two-year deal that has a very team-friendly out built into it this offseason. The Vikings could cut Andrew Van Ginkel – who would cost $12.4 million against the cap in 2025 – before the start of the league year. They'd save nearly $6 million, even after eating his $6.6 million in dead cap.
| Player |
24 Cap Hit |
24 Dead Cap |
25 Cap Hit |
25 Dead Cap |
26 Cap Hit |
26 Dead Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Van Ginkel |
$3.4M |
$10M |
$12.4M |
$6.6M |
UFA |
UFA |
-
Andrew Van Ginkel 2024 Statistics : 79 Tkl | 11.5 Sk | 19 QB Hits | 18 TFL | 2 Int (2 TD) | 1 FF
On the other end of the line, Jonathan Greenard's contract from March of last year makes him much more secure for next season. The 27-year-old pass rush specialist took most of his cash for 2024 in the form of a signing bonus, in order to save the Vikings money against last year's salary cap.
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This season, though, the Vikings' space is scheduled to increase from $5.7 million to $22.3 million. Unlike Van Ginkel, cutting Greenard prior to March 12 is not an option. It would cost Minnesota $32.2 million in dead cap penalties.
| Player |
24 Cap Hit |
24 Dead Cap |
25 Cap Hit |
25 Dead Cap |
26 Cap Hit |
26 Dead Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Greenard |
$5.7M |
$38M |
$22.3M |
$32.3M |
$22.3M |
$9.9M |
-
Jonathan Greenard 2024 Statistics : 59 Tkl | 12 Sk | 18 TFL | 22 QB Hits | 4 FF
This time next year that security goes away for Greenard. Yes, his salary ($18.4M) remains the same, and so does his cap hit of $22.3 million. But the Vikings could also cut him next offseason for a measly $9.9 million dead cap penalty.
Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard sticking with Minnesota Vikings long term?
Here's the thing, though. Neither guy looks like they will be leaving the state of Minnesota any time soon. On Saturday, Andrew Van Ginkel was spotted at the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets game at Target Center in Minneapolis.
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That photo of Van Ginkel was posted within hours of Jonathan Greenard posting his own photo on Instagram of him standing in the the Minnesota house he is in the process of building, while wearing a Brock Faber Minnesota Wild jersey. The Wild play tonight , too.
Some @Vikings representation today at the Timberwolves-Nuggets game.
JJ McCarthy and Andrew Van Ginkel are in the building!
📸 @emleiker pic.twitter.com/Np8HZNvbe2— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) January 25, 2025
I'm no insider but something tells me Jonathan Greenard plans to stick around MN. pic.twitter.com/H3LTqQkMK8
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) January 25, 2025
For different (but similar) reasons, contract extensions for both Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard make sense. Both guys vastly outperformed expectations last season. Thus, the Vikings could offer Greenard more term and a nice signing bonus, in exchange for a discount on his cap hit in 2025. Obviously, he isn't planning on leaving Minnesota anytime soon.
Related: Vikings QB Sam Darnold Wins NFL Most Improved Award
Meanwhile, Andrew Van Ginkel's extension is even more obvious, because he will want to turn his "prove it," two-year deal from last offseason into more long-term security and WAY more total dollars. In return, the Minnesota Vikings will get to lock in one of the premiere coverage outside linebackers in the NFL for a decent discount, especially in the first year or two.
